Western Canada can feel like a place all its own. People joke that Alberta’s the Texas of Canada, and in popular culture like movies like Cool Runnings, it’s often seen as a ranching and cowboy type of province: a lot of this is because of the long history of ranching in the area.

Although there are considerably fewer farmers and ranchers in today’s Alberta, the Calgary Stampede still goes on, and the diets still reflect the history of this land.

Beef

Beef is the largest food source made in Alberta for a reason. The endless open land is perfect for ranching and gives landowners the chance to grow as many cattle as they want as healthily as possible. This encourages better tasting meat and is one of the most well-known parts of the Calgary diet. Although plenty of other animals are raised here, beef will always be the best-known one.

Bison

The original life that lived on this land, bison, used to number in the millions. Unfortunately, hunters in Canada and America killed off most of this population due to greed, wiping almost all of them from the face of the earth. Thankfully they’ve made a huge comeback, and thanks to ethical consumption and good breeding, they’re now common enough again for people to enjoy their meat.

Saskatoon Berries

Also known as the prairie berry, saskatoon berries are a fantastic mix of sweet and tart that allow people to enjoy a bit of zip throughout their day. These can be eaten raw or cooked and have a distinctly wild flavor, in the way that meat can taste gamey; these berries taste of the prairies where they were grown.

Red Fife Wheat

Red Fife wheat may not be a kind most people have heard of, but this textured and unique wheat allows bread and baked goods to have a unique flavor. Although it’s more earthy, it’s delicious and a great way to boost your dishes.

Canola

Canola oil is one of the neutral oils that’s used worldwide for all kinds of cooking and baking because of its high smoke point. Calgary supplies a major portion of that, allowing it to be a part of the entire world’s kitchen.

Honey

European honeybees thrive here thanks to the massive amounts of open land and natural flowering plants. As well, the fresh honey you can find from roadside stalls to supermarkets in Alberta make Calgary homes for sale mighty tempting.

Root Vegetables

Alberta’s dense and rocky soil makes it difficult to grow much: so what can be produced has to be hearty and strong. Root vegetables are a must in this area and are delicious regardless of being grown. From carrots to potatoes and turnips, you’ll find the best versions of each in Alberta.

Ranching History Still Shows In Today’s Diets

Ranching is something that will always be iconic for Calgary. There’s something incredible about the large selection of food, drinks, and experiences this province offers that you can’t find anywhere else. Try some of these flavors from Alberta, and you’ll fall in love in no time.